Cutter chain



2&11145? @ct. H5, 1%. W. A. HAWLTQN CUTTER CHAIN Filed 001;. 12, 1954 INVENT OR.

ul w mx l ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3' Claims.

The present invention relates to specific features of improvement over the cutter chain described in my former Patent 1,956,503, dated April 24, 1934.

; As will be apparent, as" the. disclosure proceeds, the cutter chain of my present. invention includes a substantially solid cutter bit-link, which is detachably assembled with relation to connecting links, the connecting links being formed of spaced ml plates integral with flattened pin members, the

arrangement being such that the teeth of the drive sprocket are adapted to enter a recess defined by the opposed ends of contiguous cutter bit links and the side plates of the, connecting links.

; The features of improvement will be apparent from the following detail description and will be defined with particularity in the appendedclaims.

Fig. l is a side elevation view of a linked section of the cutter chain of the present invention; Fig. 2.

20. is a bottom view of the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse. vertical sectional view through a cutter link; Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view through a connecting link; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the chain; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a cutter link; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a connecting link.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawing, the section of the cutter chain shown comprises two cutter bit links I, in interlocking relationship with connecting links 2. The manner of effecting the interlocking of the two elements is illustrated in dotted lines at the right of Fig. 1, showing the connecting link 2 in a position to be removed from Y the interlocking relationship with the cutter bit link I.

The cutter bit link of the present invention comprises a head or block portion I, having a recessed opening 3 to receive the cutter bit T, and means such as set screw 4 to retain the bit therein. The

head or block portion is formed integrally with a base or shank portion 5.

The cutter bit link of my invention is a relatively solid block-like member, as will be clear from Figs. 1 and 3. Such solid structure provides a more rigid support for the bit T than that of my former patent, above referred to, and lessens the tendency of the bit to chatter and loosen. The more solid construction of the present invention also adds to the useful life of the chain, as it provides a greater mass of metal disposed at a distance remote from the zone about which the bit tends to bend, when in use, or stated another way, the metal of the improved link is so disposed with 55 respect to the stresses imposed on the bit as to more eifectively resist the tendency to fracture the link.

Aledge 6 is provided on each side of the shank to engage the cutter chain housing. The shank 5 is provided with longitudinally extending hook- 5 shaped end projections l of less width than the median portion, each having a circular recess or bearing section 8 and a throat 9 therein, which is of less width than the diameter of the bearing section 8. The position of the throat 9 in the longi- 10,- tudinally extending end projection 1 is preferably as illustrated, as in this position. it provides the maximum protection from accidentaldisconnecting of the links.

The shape, contour and configuration of each 15; hook projection is identical. The cutter bit link may be either cast or forged into shape and may be comprised of various materials. Each cutter bit link is identical in size, shape and configuration,wwith the exception of the bit-carrying head 20 of said link, said head-beinglocated on center line of chain, as shown in Fig. 3 or at 15, 30 and 45 from said center line. In a complete chain, the bits are arranged in a fanlike formation so as to cut a kerf of sufficient width to clear the chain 25 housing.

Each connecting link comprises two substantially parallel plate portions 2 integrally united by two spaced circular pin members 10 to form a homogeneous unit. 30

This differs from the construction of my former patent in which a single rib section carries two pins at either end cantilevered therefrom. The present improvement is of more sturdy construction and will wear more uniformly since there are 35 two pin bearings per link as against four bearings per link in my former patent. Each plate portion 2 carries a ledge section II to engage the cutter chain housing as does ledge 6. The circular pin members l0 are of substantially the same 40 diameter as the bearing openings 8 in the shank of the cutter bit link and the top and bottom faces of each pin are flattened, so that the space between them is less than the width of opening 9 of the shank. Either end of the connecting link 45 can, therefore, be interlocked in either end of the cutter bit link.

To connect the cutter bit and connecting links as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, it is only necessary to turn the connecting link at right 60 angles to the cutter bit link, slip the flattened portion of the pin l0 through throat 9 and then rotate the connecting link back to lie in the same plane as the cutter bit link.

By providing relatively long transverse bearing faces in the hooked ends 1, substantially all tendency of the pin members It] therein to rock is eliminated. By making the transverse dimension I2 of end sections of the cutter bit link substantially equal to that of the space l3 between the parallel plates 2 of the connecting link, the strength and rigidity of the link structure is materially increased.

The connecting links or the present invention differ from those of my prior patentin that they are formed of spaced parallel plates 2 2 joined by the integral flattened pin members Ill-J0, such parallel plates and pin members forming a homogeneous unit of the same metal, either cast, forged, or otherwise produced. With the arrangement of the present invention, the

teeth of the driving sprockets enter pockets or recesses M, which are bounded at their sides by the parallel plates Z -Z and at their ends by the hook-like extremities of the projections! of the cutter bit links. This difiers from the construction of my former patent, in which the teeth of the drive sprockets were adapted to enter recesses formed in the cutter bit links, said drive sprocket teeth making a rolling contact with a broken surface, formed by two shoulders in the cutter bit link and the hook-like extremity of the connecting link.

In the present improvement, the teeth of the cutter sprocket make a rolling contact with the rounded projections at the ends of the cutter bit links, said rounded projections being smooth, unbroken surfaces, which will make for more even wear and smoother running than is possible with the construction of my former patent.

Having described the distinctive features of improvement, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A cutter chain comprising cutter bit links and connecting links disposed in alternate articulated arrangement throughout the length of the V the two extremities therof and a solid bit receiving portion, each projection having a bearing recess therein, each of said connecting links 5 including a pair of plate portions, flanking said projections and being homogeneously integrated by spaced pin portions adapted to be received in the bearing recesses of either of said projections to connect the cutter bit links and connecting 10 links together substantially free from end or side play between the links.

2. A cutter chain comprising cutter bit links and connecting links disposed in alternate articulated arrangement throughout the length of 16 the chain, each cutter bit link having a respective centrally extending projection at the two extremities thereof, a bit seated in a cavity, each projection having an open-throated recess therein, each of said connecting links including 20 a pair of plate portions homogeneously united to pin portions extending through the recesses in said projections, said pin portions having oppositely disposed flat faces the distance between which is substantially equal to the throat opening of said recesses.

3. A cutter chain comprising a. series of cutter bit links flexibly joined by connecting links, each cutter bit link having a respective centrally extending projection at the two extremities therev of and a solid bit receiving portion carrying a bit, each projection having an open-throated recess therein, each of said connecting links including a pair of plates united by pins extending through the recesses in said projections, said pins having oppositely disposed flat faces the distance between which is substantially equal to the throat opening of said recesses, the pins forming an integral homogeneous unitary part of said plates. 0

WILLIAM A. HAMILTON. 

